The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-04-02
Winter Food for !Saciae.

Now, while we would not be understood
as saying that pumpkins, any more than
mangel- wurtzels or any other root crops,
are equal to corn as winter food for hogs,
yet what we do say is that when fed 10
growing hogs, along with corn, either of
such crops is better than all corn for the
complete development of the animal. They
are the next best substitute for grass-the
best We can get in winter-and should be
more extensively raised. Not that when
fed alone at any season Of the year they
can be made to take the place of corn, for
they contain too little of the fat and flesh
forming constituents to make complete
ration for the animal; but as winter food
for growing hogs they are grand adjuncts
to grain feed of any kind, as well as most
excellent corrective of the bowels. The
stomach of II pig under six months old has
not the digestive capacity to assimilate
enough of such food to insure the neces-
sary and harmonious development of form.
AS we'll might we expect yearling calves,
wlntered on straw, to develop into proper
form. They may live on it and grow plenty
of paunch, and that is all; but there is not
nutriment enough in such food to keep ND
the animal heat. without which there can
be no complete development of form. Like
pigs confined to grass or vegetable diet
food, but it is not composed of such con-
stituents as will meet the demands of ma.
ture in the full development of the carcass
On the other hand, pigs as well as calves
fed on grass alone have their digestive or
CANS so disarranged bv the over production
OF fat as to prevent the full development
OF the system. We say such food is too
heating, and so it is when fed alone; but
that Is no reason why we should lump at
conclusions and denounce it while -unninp
Wild over pumpkins, mangle- wurtzels, or
anything else. They both have their place
In Judicious feeding, and in the winter
time, when there is no grass TO be had,
stock require along with then corn food
something more succulent and easy tc d.
gest- 10 illustrate: ton of corn in the ear
contains bu. 228 pounds of water and SOS
pounds OF heterogeneous, albuminous, and
iatty matter, while ton of pumpkins con-
talns as much as 1890 pounds of the
former and only % pounds of the three
latter. A ton of oats contains only 26O
pounds of water and Clio pounds of nitro
genous, albuminous, and fatty matter,
Whlle ton OF mangel- contains
1,Uu pounds of the former and only 30
pounds OF the three latter. 1t is evident,
teen, that we cannot profitably feed
pumpkins or mangel-wurtzels alone, but
their chief value is as a complement to
grain feed. In other words. We cannot
make fat and muscle as cheaply with
pumpkins and mange's as with corn and
oats But as corn is too heating and consti.
patlng food when fed by itself, and pump
k1ns and mangels too washy. science and
common sense both tell rs to feed enough
OF each If We would have a complete
ration. II is from such course OF feed
ing hat the best results come. whether for
health or profitable growth. Pumpkins
may be planted in the corn field as late as
the brst of Jnue, and the yellow or COW
pumpkin Is the hest for hcgs.- Baltimore
San.